Performance of piglets suckling sows fed ractopamine-supplemented diets

摘要

During the first lactation, ractopamine (RAC; Paylean~R) reduced mobilisation of maternal reserves and impaired piglet growth (Pain et al., 2007). Although subsequent reproductive performance of RAC-supplemented sows was improved, adoption of this technology is limited by the lower weaning weights observed. Consequently, two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that altering RAC inclusion rate and the period of inclusion rate relative to parturition, in the diet of first lactation sows would result in differential effects on milk composition, piglet growth rate and weaning weight.